Senior Program Officer, Housing

Employment type

Full-time Temp, Non-Exempt

Posted

16 days ago

Location

Los Angeles

Description

The California Community Foundation (CCF) is a public, charitable organization serving Los Angeles County in multiple capacities since 1915. We encourage philanthropy by individuals, families, companies and organizations, and serve as a trusted steward of their charitable funds and legacies. We make grants and collaborate with nonprofits in specific areas and concentrate attention and resources on the needs of the most vulnerable individuals and groups in the community. CCF convenes and engages nonprofit, private and public-sector partners to increase philanthropy and incorporate philanthropists into community problem solving in Los Angeles.

CCF is a dynamic environment that values individuals who want a purpose more than a position. We have a diverse and talented team of experienced and passionate advocates for our community. We are a learning organization driven by the idea that continuous improvement furthers professional development and increases our ability to effect positive change. We seek individuals who thrive in a fast-paced setting highly focused on results and impact.

Reporting to the vice president, health and housing, the senior program officer is responsible for grant making, project management, community engagement, catalytic capital investment and strategic convening activities related to California Community Foundation’s (CCF’s) core housing and economic opportunity program areas. This position requires experience and leadership skills which will enable CCF to carry out its work in an effective, fair, and thoughtful manner.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategy Development, Program Design and Management - With the VP develops and implement goals, activities and overall strategy for the foundation's core housing work, as well as economic opportunity and cross sectoral work with health, transit, environmental justice and planning partners. Key projects in development will include:

Identifying, developing and implementing strategies to increase housing production, preservation, and protections as well as economic opportunities related to transit expansion and smart growth.

Developing innovative public / private demonstration projects with other funders, business community and local government.

Coordinating with CCF's PRI program to ensure that housing and economic development partners can use catalytic capital investments to leverage the effectiveness of grants, capacity building and advocacy work.

Community Outreach and Policy Advocacy: Through grant making and convening works to support community organizing to accomplish housing production, preservation and protection goals. Works with key business, philanthropic, community and government stakeholders to facilitate the development of public policy through research, coalition building, convening, grant making and capacity building. Monitors local and national policies and initiatives related to housing and economic opportunity issues and makes recommendations regarding policy positions. Develops and creates strategic partnerships. Assumes leadership roles in professional networks and collaborations related to CCF’s priority issues and philanthropic activities. Represents CCF and provides information about the initiatives and CCF at community events and meetings with foundation partners, constituencies, and stakeholder groups. With the program manager and/or associate, works directly with grantseekers to provide clarification of CCF priorities, direction regarding application procedures, and feedback on proposals.

Portfolio Management: Manages the overall grant making strategy, goals and activities in the housing and economic opportunity portfolio. Reviews, analyzes and makes recommendations on grant proposals. Monitors grant investments and maintain ongoing communications with grantees. Works to strengthen organizational capacity of grantees and sector.

Research and Special Projects: Conducts and monitors research on housing and economic opportunity issues and other issues of importance to CCF. Uses research process and products to guide strategies and inform advocacy partners. Builds on research projects to identify systems change issues and solutions related to housing production, preservation and protections. Ensures that research is disseminated and presented to appropriate stakeholders. Designs, manages and facilitates special projects for CCF, ensuring a thoughtful and reasonable process, timely preparation and coordination of key activities and materials for review panels, advisory committees, and CCF’s Board of Directors.

Resource Development: Identifies and pursues opportunities to bring in funding partners, prepares grant proposals and project reports, as appropriate. Develops and maintain relationships with national funders and promote opportunities for national funders to partner with CCF initiatives.

Communications: Drafts internal materials such as briefing memos and external materials such as reports to funders and partners. Prepares and delivers presentations both internally and externally. Participates as a member of related committees, teams, coalitions and working groups.

Collaboration: Proactively seeks and identifies inter-departmental activities to engage in that advance CCF priorities through collaborative grant making, convening, or public policy advocacy.

Donor Relations: Leads project working teams and collaborates with Development, Donor Relations and Communications staff to strategize on messaging, fund development and impact analysis for discretionary funds. Prepares information for donors and/or meets with donors to refine their giving preferences. May also staff one-time, periodic or ongoing grantmaking processes associated with donor-advised funds and supporting organizations.

Project Management, Delegation and Supervision: In collaboration with VP and others in department, delegates projects to and assists in the supervision of program managers, associates and assistants to manage and accomplish the work of the department and the foundation in an efficient and effectively planned manner. Ensures that foundation databases are accurate, updated in a timely manner and are effectively utilized. Manages workload to ensure sufficient time is allotted to knowledge acquisition and to achieve mastery of department processes and technology.

Internal Integration of Work: Identifies opportunities for and integrates the functions and skills of civic engagement, marketing and communications and development and donor relations into their grantmaking to increase focus on systemic change. Engages with internal and external resources to secure necessary competencies. Coordinates work between departments and with external vendors, as necessary. Identifies and pursues opportunities for internal integration of work across functions and departments to make connections and leverage the strengths and efforts of CCF.

General: As appropriate, assists other departments and works as a member of interdepartmental teams to ensure the effective and efficient operations of CCF. At all times, demonstrates cooperative behavior with supervisors and coworkers. Serves on national and local non-profit or association boards. Other duties as assigned, dependent on organizational needs and employee skills.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Experience: At least eight years of related program design, program implementation, grant making, and management experience required with a minimum of five years working in the nonprofit, public and/or philanthropic sector required. Experience in managing consultants and project working teams to achieve results is essential.

Education: A Master’s level degree in a field related to the primary funding areas of the foundation required.

Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated analytical capabilities and substantive knowledge of best practices in fields of interest to the foundation, including city planning, housing finance, non-profit finance, loan and mission-related investment programs, public policy and legislative process, public and private funding streams related to the foundation’s domains of work, and a working understanding of outcome measures and evaluation methodologies aimed at assessing program effectiveness.

Community Knowledge: Knowledge of the Los Angeles County nonprofit community, familiarity with the geography and diverse neighborhoods throughout the region, and experience in working effectively with diverse and broad-based community constituencies.

Convening and Facilitation Skills: Able to facilitate meetings and group processes for the purposes of fact-finding, decision-making, peer learning and problem solving.

Fundraising Skills: Working knowledge of raising funds from individual donors, foundations and/or the public sector.

Communication Skills: Excellent writing skills with the ability to write clear, concise analyses and narratives. Ability to prepare and give presentations, and to comfortably interact with diverse audiences including donors, Board members, civic leaders and nonprofit and community groups. Bi- or multilingual competency desired.

Leadership Skills: Ability to make well-reasoned decisions in the best interests of the organization for the present and future, and the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds. Good meeting management skills and understanding of political processes.

Technology Skills: Internet competency and strong computer proficiency, including mastery of the Microsoft Office software suite and a familiarity with database software, is required. Working knowledge of Blackbaud software preferred, with a willingness and ability to learn appropriate database, spreadsheet and other computer programs.

Project Management Skills: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to lead and manage projects, prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple demands, with consistent attention to timelines.

Team Work & General Skills: Ability to work well independently and as team member. Ability to take initiative, and follow tasks through to completion. Ability to lead a team toward CCF's goals, leveraging each team member's skill set.

Working Conditions:

Requires the ability to sit and work at a desk for several hours at a time.

Requires the ability to travel and attend meetings, presentations and events outside the office, which may require occasional use of a motor vehicle for transportation to other locations. Due to the nature of external appointments and/or responsibilities requiring travel to locations not easily accessible by public transportation, driving is an essential job responsibility for this position.

This position is required to be available to speak with clients and/or others while away from the office and/or with clients and/or others located in other time zones outside Foundation business hours.

Work may require weekends and/or extended work day.

Punctuality and satisfactory attendance are essential functions of the job.

Compensation:

This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. A generous benefit package is provided to all full-time staff, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, parking or transportation, and retirement benefits.

CCF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees, and we make employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, gender expression, age or any other protected status. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable federal, state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.